Three tips for Saving Energy with Your Heat and Cooling Unit

It seems like everyone is looking for ways to save energy and since a huge part of your utility bill comes from your heat and cooling unit, it’s a good place to start when you want to cut back on your energy usage and save money. We’ve grown accustom to staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter but you don’t have to give up comfort to save energy. Just a few simple changes to your normal routine can make a big difference on how much energy your heating and cooling unit consumes.

Buy Quality Filters

You need to change your filters about every two to three months and even more often in some cases, so when buying filters it may be tempting to buy a cheaper brand than what’s recommended for your system but that may not be a good idea. If you’re not using quality filters, they won’t work efficiently and they’ll let many of the containment in that you’re trying to keep out of your home or business.

Pleated filters are usually the best because they work more efficiently by trapping the dirt and debris in, which helps to keep the air in your home cleaner. These filters also circulate air better than the cheaper ones, so they help your system to run more efficiently, using less energy.

Use a Digital Control Thermostat

Where you set your thermostat makes a big difference in the amount of energy your heat and cooling unit uses. In fact, even a few degrees can make a big difference in how much you pay on your electric bill. It’s recommended that you set your thermostat between 68-70 degrees in the winter and 78-80 degrees in the summer or as close to these settings as possible. This is where your unit will be the most energy efficient while maintaining comfort but if you’re not using a digital thermostat, it will be difficult to know for sure you’re setting it on the right temperature.

Digital control thermostats allow you to set the temperature exactly where you want it, so you don’t have to guess. Many of the newer models are also programmable so you can set the thermostat to change temperatures when you’re not there. According to energy.gov, you can save as much as 10 percent on your heating and cooling bill a year simply by programming your thermostat to adjust the temperature when you’re away or asleep.

For example, in the summer you can set it to change automatically to 85 degrees during the day when you’re at work and then program it to go back to 78 or 80 before you return home. This helps you use less energy when no one is around and still maintain a comfortable temperature when you’re home.

Maintain Adequate Ventilation

Did you know that in order for any heat and cooling unit to work properly, it has to have proper ventilation? The more air tight your home or business is, the more important it is to make sure your system has proper ventilation. Poor ventilation will use more energy and it can also reduce the air quality in your home making it unhealthy to live in.

If you’re having problems with poor ventilation or you want to install a new digital thermostat, call a professional heating and cooling service to help so you can start saving more energy while maintaining a comfortable environment.